An illustrated and informative booklet titled Firsts in Indian Philately by Ervad Cyrus Sidhva, a keen philatelist, was brought out in January 2016 during MAHAPEX 2016 in Nasik where Sidhva received a bronze medal and certificate, writes Marzban Giara in an email sent to Parsiana. Sidhva was also granted permission to visit India Security Press there where stamps, passports and other government security articles are printed.
Ervad Cyrus Sidhva and his book
With a Foreword by senior philatelist Vispi Dastur, the booklet provides information under 30 heads such as different shapes of stamps, their designs, series on writers, paintings, migratory birds, winners of gallantry awards, national parks, gems and jewelry, renewable energy, et al. When Indian cinema completed 100 years, 50 stamps were issued on a single day, May 3, 2013, commemorating 50 cine personalities in films in different languages. A stamp on Sohrab Modi is part of this series.
Sidhva, who teaches and is scout master at the Dadar Parsee Youth Assembly High School and the Dadar Athornan Institute (DAI), is also editor of Knowledgiate, the annual publication of DAI. Priced at a reasonable Rs 50, the booklet is available at the Dadar Athornan Institute, 651-652 Firdoshi Road, Mancherji Joshi Dadar Parsi Colony, Bombay 400014. Email:
knowledgiate@gmail.com